THE TREES OF CANBERRA AVENUE

At the suggestion of W H Carmichael of Sydney in 1925, various societies and
organisations sponsored the planting of trees in Canberra for the beautification of the
national capital. On 2nd August 1926 members of the Institution of Engineers,
Australia (now known as Engineers Australia) ceremoniously planted trees in the
Manuka Circle section of Canberra Avenue.

The trees planted by the IEAust party are a tangible link with the early days of the
national capital. They symbolise the keen interest of the citizens of the young nation
in the building of a capital city and the sense of nationhood established by the
federation of the Australian colonies in 1901 and cemented on the battlefields of
World War I. By contributing to the planting of trees in Canberra Avenue, the
engineers indicated their awareness of the vital role of the engineering profession in
building the nation.